DCU:why no-one should send their kids there

[pangur1]

Today's IT features on its front page one dirty large secret that DCU management has covered up for years; the massive failure rates, 39% on sci/tech courses with the students simply dropping out at this rate. The Greens, in their pre-FF incarnation in 2002, had a warning about the massive failure rates on the computing degree as part of their IT policy. They were threatened during the 2002 campaign by Herr Von Prondzynski and removed the reference; of the 300+ students who started, only 175 made it to final year. Of course, there was subsequent meltdown on that degree; students who studied on it should know there were staff fighting tooth and nail for them.

However, that is by no means the worst aspect of DCU. Please look at the Dail questions featured here and ask whether anyone should send their kids there in the absence of basic rights for students of security of person;

20 March 2009 ‘Watchdog’ on Higher Education in Ireland

[lostexpectation]

your not the one who called him a nazi are you?

[Riadach]

Hmm, I always thought high failure rates were a good thing in a college

[mmrebel]

The OP is slightly misleading

HUGE NUMBERS of university students are dropping out of science and technology courses after their first year in college, according to new figures obtained by The Irish Times.

At Dublin City University, regarded as the State’s leading “hi-tech” university, 39 per cent of students who began a science and technology degree course failed to progress to second year in their chosen course.

At UCD, the non-completion rate in science and technology courses was 26 per cent.

The drop-out rate from science/technology/engineering and maths courses was high across the seven universities in the State, averaging more than 20 per cent. Ahead of the Leaving Cert results on Wednesday, the high drop-out rates among first-year university students will raise fresh questions about the so called “dumbing down” of the exam.

While grades have improved dramatically in the past decade, Tom Boland, chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, recently voiced fears of declining standards, with what he called “spoon-fed” second-level students struggling to cope at third level.

Last night, Tony Donohoe, head of education and social policy for employers’ group Ibec, said these “extremely disappointing” new drop-out figures highlight “the worst effects of the points system.”
read the full article Over 20% drop out of university science and technology courses - The Irish Times - Mon, Aug 10, 2009

[geruptheyard!]

of the 300+ students who started, only 175 made it to final year.

I think you'll find this is a good thing, high expectations hold better graounding with employers and other universities in regards further learning. Just cause you go to study dont mean you deserve a free pass and a piece of paper.

i know 3 lads went to Uni at DCU they broke there balls for good degrees and this was reflected by getting good jobs almost instantly, last one was employeed only in January.

If you have a problem with the security or the lack of respect for students then thats a different story altogether ..... i dont think that's cool at all.

[KingKane]

There has been a thread on this for the last 18 hours, right here in this forum!

Hell you even posted on it. http://www.politics.ie/education-sci...y-courses.html

So ,why does this need another thread? Either come up with a reason pretty damn quick or its Hades for you.

[KingKane]

your not the one who called him a nazi are you?

He has a sufficiently one track mind to be.

[politicaldonations]

I know people who did degrees in Trinity and UCD and the staff there were much more likely to give struggling students extra time to complete continuous assesment projects, repeating exams, missing exams thru sickness then sitting them in summer with much mor etime to study etc. DCU are just very strict with exam results and deadlines. It's not their fault if CAO points system allows weak or unmotivated students into university. They should raise minimum maths levels to say higher level B rather than current level of higher level C.

[libertarian-right]

Did the computing degree in DCU, started off with 200 odd in the course ended up with 40 odd graduating. You must remember the points are low for over 10 years now and people do not expect the level of maths and programming involved. Half came in expecting to be on MSN and MS Office all day.

[asknoquestions]

I know people who did degrees in Trinity and UCD and the staff there were much more likely to give struggling students extra time to complete continuous assesment projects, repeating exams, missing exams thru sickness then sitting them in summer with much mor etime to study etc. DCU are just very strict with exam results and deadlines. It's not their fault if CAO points system allows weak or unmotivated students into university. They should raise minimum maths levels to say higher level B rather than current level of higher level C.

If you look at the mathematical intervarsities, UCD, UCC and Trinity are usually competing for top spot while DCU and UL are trying to avoid the wooden spoon.

UCC Mathsoc | Competitions | IV